Oh my goodnes, let me first say that I had like a whole 3 paragraphs written and some how I deleted it and it magicly dissappeared. Oh man that makes me so mad. Ha.
Lets try this again....
Okay!! so...Jesus is so good! I really don't want to be that one blogger that blogs about every little thing, but I have a feeling that it may be me! Please, bear with me though because its all about Jesus, well most of it anyway. I promise this one is all about Jesus. ok ok, sorry, i get off track easy.
As i write more, keep in mind what I blogged last about and that I'm reading the book Irresistable Revolution by Shane Claiborne.
I am currently on chapter 6 of this book and let me just quite what Mr. Claiborne says...
"I'm convinced that God did not mess up and make too many people and not enough stuff. Poverty was created Not by God, but by you and me because we have not learned to love our neighbors as ourselves. Gandhi put it well when he said "There is enough for everyones need, but not enough for everyones greed." -Shane Claiborne
Oh snap!!! So I read this and sent it to a few of my close friends that have a huge heart for the poor and are moved by it. I feel like Shane Claiborne puts it perfectly so I have no room to really comment besides...AMEN!!! Isn't that crazy!!
Yesterday at one club we discuss about LOVE. I even commented that before we can even love others we have to love ourselves. I unfortunately believe that many of us do not love ourselves, therefore we do not love our neighbors and the least of these. Heck I hated myself until I was about 16 years old. I'm finally beginning to love myself, then I went to Haiti and realized love for others and even in my own community and school. Yet daily, I continually fall short of loving my neighbors as myself. I constantly am after my own desires and am so easily satisfied. I am extremely selfish and prideful. I fall very short. oh and that's my prayer to fall so in love with Jesus...to know His love that much more deeper so that i would not be wishy washy on who I love and when I love. I want to love all, always!!! There's a verse in philippians 2 that talks about looking to others interests before our own...I do that MAYBE on a good day. How am I any different from the rest of society if I only love people I like and am greedy and selfish?? I look the same. I pray to be transformed! transformed by the renewing of my mind and not to conform to the pattern of this world that says it's all about me. It's not all about me or you! Sorry to bust your bubble. I'm busting yours because Jesus has officially busted mine. Dude!! is this not so ridiculous!! Jesus meant what He said. Love God first, then love your neighbor as yourself. SNAP!!
Ok so all these thoughts are running through my mind and I sent that text out. Then my buddy, Michael Miller texted back saying he had sent me an email and that it will blow my mind. I checked my email when I got home and dude, I was floored when i read it. He sent it before i even sent out that text which is even crazier. HA ha, I love how jesus does things.
Here's the link to what he sent me... http://rejectapathy.com/poverty/features/1455-life-lessons-from-swaziland
Now to save you time I'll summarize it for you...
first, know that it is about SWZILAND!!!....you know where i'm going this summer! haha also its a dude who lives there with the same organization i am going with!! ahhh even cooler. But even cooler than that is that it was about LOVE!!! This dude named Dennis Brock is talking about serving others before yourself and the poverty and AIDS pandemic in Swaziland. He talks about loving the least of these selflessly!! putting aside self for others, for advancing the kingdom of God!! oh my goodness gracious!! I FREAKED OUT!! and im still freaking out. haha oh man, Jesus, thank you for continually bursting my bubble to teach me more and to deny myself and daily take up my cross and follow you. I follow a homeless man(Jesus) and i serve homeless men(everyone around)!
Do you see why I just had to share this? Yup, thats what i thought, huh? These are lessons things I've heard my whole life but have never taken them literal. I've just been told, yeah go love you neighbor....NO yall...Jesus is serious when he says it GO AND LOVE!! it's not when ya want to and what not...its a commandment. The greatest commandment!! oh snap!
Father, continue to open my eyes to the things unseen. Continue to open my eyes to your love for me and for everyone despite our faults and misconceptions of You. Lord I pray for more of you and less of me. Rid me of my self and pride. Jesus, to overflow in your joy and love and grace. More jesus, more of you!! amen
Laura Beth Harbin
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